Gina Ragno

Anemia-induced increase in the bleeding time : implications for treatment of nonsurgical blood loss

BACKGROUND: Preoperative bleeding time (BT) does not correlate with postoperative bleeding in patients subjected to surgical procedures. A significant positive correlation has been reported between the BT 2 hours after cardiopulmonary bypass surgery and the nonsurgical blood loss during the first 4 hours after bypass surgery. This study was done to investigate the effect of Hct and platelet count on the BT measurement in normal, healthy men and women.

A multicenter study of in vitro and in vivo values in human RBCs frozen with 40-percent (wt/vol) glycerol and stored after deglycerolization for 15 days at 4°C in AS-3: assessment of RBC processing in the ACP 215

BACKGROUND: The FDA has approved the storage of frozen RBCs at –80°C for 10 years. After deglycerolization, the RBCs can be stored at 4°C for no more than 24 hours, because open systems are currently being used. Five laboratoris have been evaluating an automated, functionally closed system (ACP 215, Haemonetics) for both the glycerolization and deglycerolization processes.

Effect of 24-hour whole-blood storage on plasma clotting factors.

BACKGROUND: The current requirements for the preparation of fresh‐frozen plasma within 8 hours of whole‐blood collection were designed to maintain clotting factor activities. These requirements, however, limit the production of fresh‐frozen plasma in a large blood center. There are few data on the effect of the extension of CPD whole‐blood storage to 24 hours on clotting factor activity.

An Experiment with Glycerol-Frozen Red Blood Cells Stored at –80°C for up to 37 Years

Background and Objectives: Red cells frozen using 40% W/V glycerol are currently FDA approved for frozen storage at –80°C for up to 10 years. Materials and Methods: Red cells frozen with 40% W/V glycerol and stored at –80°C for up to 37 years were thawed, deglycerolized, and stored at 4°C for 24 h. Results: Red cells frozen for up to 37 years had mean freeze-thaw-wash recovery values of 75%, less than 1% hemolysis, and normal ATP, 2,3-DPG and P50 levels, and 60% of normal RBC K+ levels. Conclusions: Red cells frozen with 40% W/V glycerol can be stored at –80°C for up to 37 years with acceptable in vitro results.

Fresh, liquid-preserved, and cryopreserved platelets: adhesive surface receptors and membrane procoagulant activity

BACKGROUND: A study in humans showed that the transfusion of previously frozen human platelets after cardiopulmonary bypass, despite decreased survival, resulted in better hemostatic function than that of liquid‐preserved platelets stored at 22°C for 3 to 4 days.

Nonsurgical bleeding diathesis in anemic thrombocytopenic patients: role of temperature, red blood cells, platelets, and plasma‐clotting proteins

Research at the Naval Blood Research Laboratory (Boston, MA) for the past four decades has focused on the preservation of red blood cells (RBCs), platelets (PLTs), and plasma‐clotting proteins to treat wounded servicemen suffering blood loss. We have studied the survival and function of fresh and preserved RBCs and PLTs and the function of fresh and frozen plasma‐clotting proteins. This report summarizes our peer‐reviewed publications on the effects of temperature, RBCs, PLTs, and plasma‐clotting proteins on the bleeding time (BT) and nonsurgical blood loss. The term nonsurgical blood loss refers to generalized, systemic bleeding that is not corrected by surgical interventions.

Freezing human platelets with 6 percent dimethyl sulfoxide with removal of the supernatant solution before freezing and storage at −80°C without postthaw processing.

BACKGROUND: Platelets (PLTs) can be frozen with 6 percent dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) at −80°C for up to 2 years. This method has been modified by concentrating the PLTs and removing the supernatant before freezing.

Process for the preparation of pathogen‐inactivated RBC concentrates by using PEN110 chemistry: preclinical studies

BACKGROUND: A pathogen‐inactivation process for RBC concentrates is being developed by using PEN110 chemistry (INACTINE, V.I. Technologies). The objective of this study was to characterize the quality of RBCs prepared by using the PEN110 process and to measure the virucidal effect achieved against two viruses.

Limitations of the hematocrit level to assess the need for red blood cell transfusion in hypovolemic anemic patients

BACKGROUND:  The transfusion trigger that physicians use to determine whether a patient requires a red blood cell (RBC) transfusion is the peripheral venous hematocrit (Hct) value. Although this measurement is an indicator of the concentration of RBCs in the blood, it does not reveal the RBC volume, plasma volume, or total blood volume, nor does it give any indication of whether the patient is hypovolemic, normovolemic, or hypervolemic.

In vivo survival of apheresis RBCs, frozen with 40-percent (wt/vol) glycerol, deglycerolized in the ACP 215, and stored at 4°C in AS-3 for up to 21 days

BACKGROUND: The FDA has approved the storage of frozen RBCs at –80°C for 10 years and the postwash storage at 4°C for no more than 24 hours. The 4°C postwash storage period is limited to 24 hours, because the current deglycerolization systems are functionally open systems.